Your Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up and Promoting Your Online Business

Are you ready to turn your business dream into a thriving online reality?

An online business launch can feel overwhelming, but with the right steps (and a handy checklist), you’ll confidently build your digital headquarters, attract your audience, and watch your hard work pay off.

In this post, I’ll walk you through a comprehensive online business launch checklist, inspired by my recent video, with practical action steps to make each phase simple and effective.

Domain Name & Hosting

Your website is your digital storefront, so start by picking a memorable, relevant, and easy-to-spell domain name, ideally a .com. This becomes your online identity and how customers find you. Once you’ve locked in your perfect domain (Lakeshark Web, GoDaddy, and Namecheap are reliable options), it’s time for web hosting.

For budget-friendly hosting, GoDaddy offers plans starting at $8.99/month. Looking for premium WordPress hosting? WP Engine, though pricier, is known for speed and support. Choose what fits your needs and budget, then set up your new domain and hosting. Congratulations, you now officially exist online!

Build Your Website or Blog

No coding experience? No problem! Platforms like WordPress make launching a beautiful, professional website easy with thousands of themes and plugins. For gorgeous, secure, and mobile-friendly designs, try Elegant Themes or StudioPress (included with WP Engine).

Start by setting up your core pages: Home, Contact, FAQ, Blog, and any product or e-commerce sections if you’ll be selling online. Both Shopify and BigCommerce are excellent platforms if you want a standalone e-commerce solution.
Next, set up payment processing. Stripe, PayPal, Google Pay, or Shopify Payments are all easy, no-contract options.

Establish Your Business Email

First impressions count! A business email using your own domain (not Gmail) adds instant credibility. Use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to set up a professional, organized inbox. This small detail goes a long way in building trust with your audience.

Create Your Social Media Profiles

Social media is more than just scrolling done right, it builds your brand and brings customers to your website.

Set up profiles on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and your Google Business Profile using high-quality images and complete descriptions. These platforms are free and packed with step-by-step setup instructions.

Design a Lead Magnet

Most visitors aren’t ready to buy right away, so capture their attention (and email address!) with a valuable lead magnet. Ideas include discounts, checklists, or a test drive of your service.

Create a focused landing page (distraction-free, navigation-free) for your offer. Tools like ClickFunnels or My Smart Funnels make this easy. With a compelling opt-in, you’re building your list and nurturing future sales.

Write an Email Sequence

A welcome email sequence introduces your subscribers to your business, builds trust, and guides them toward your products and services. Plan and draft these emails before launch so you can automate and focus on other launch activities.

Create and Share Content

Content marketing is the engine that powers ongoing traffic and sales. Blog posts on niche topics, infographics, videos, and images keep visitors engaged and encourage sharing.

Don’t forget relevant keywords and calls to action (subscribe, share, buy!) to move readers to the next step.

Promote Your Content

Get your stellar content in front of your audience! Use email marketing tools (like Kartra or Constant Contact), share posts on social media, optimize for search engines (SEO), and try paid ads if your budget allows. Want more on SEO? Check out my “SEO for Beginners” series.

Test, Track, and Launch

Test every part of your business: website, payment, signup forms, and emails. Fix issues early, then create a simple launch plan with a timeline and “buzz-building” steps (social posts, emails, word of mouth).

Don’t forget analytics, install Google Analytics/Search Console and your Facebook Pixel to track results.

When everything’s tested and ready, go live! Announce your launch everywhere, celebrate your hard work, and take a well-deserved moment to savor your success.

But launching your online business is just one piece of your smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question: Do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing, learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get tailored recommendations for the best marketing ROI, and unleash your business’s true potential.

It’s like having your own marketing coach!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business. You don’t even need a lot of time.

What you need is to be smart, and launching your online business the right way is smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com